The Effect of Pavement Texture on Need for Salt in Winter Maintenance of Bicycle Roads

Abstract

In Trondheim, Norway, an increase in winter maintenance standard of bicycle roads has caused some damages, and it has become clear that the bicycle roads have a large variation in quality and use of material along short stretches. This rose a question, which was how the pavement texture affects winter maintenance actions, such as salting. The aim is of this study is to acquire data about how the need for salt is affected by difference in cross fall, type of asphalt and surface texture. Field studies have been carried out on a bicycle road, on three observation points with large difference in pavement texture. The method has been to measure surface water on days with different weather conditions, and to calculate a theoretical need for salt by using phase diagrams of freezing point depression for dissolved salt in water. The results were compared in a statistical analysis to see if there was a significant difference. The conclusion, from the results, has been that an old, porous, and dry asphalt type will have a lesser need for salt than a newer and more raw asphalt. Furthermore, it was concluded that the cross fall would have an impact on the need for salt.